August Macke
After visiting Paris in 1907, August Macke, a Rhineland artist, was profoundly influenced by French Impressionism. He began focusing on everyday subjects, emphasizing vibrant color and a sense of visual immediacy. Aligned with the ideals of German Expressionism and as a member of the Blaue Reiter (Blue Rider) group, Macke was also inspired by Robert Delaunay’s dynamic and colorful Orphism. In the years that followed, he developed a painting style characterized by simplified forms and rhythmic color harmonies. His work increasingly moved away from traditional representation and perspective, leaning instead toward a decorative, two-dimensional approach.
Four Girls was painted during Macke’s prolific Bonn period (1910–1913). The composition exudes a quiet, contemplative mood, with the figures and their natural surroundings depicted in serene harmony. In his later works—especially after his 1914 journey to Tunis—Macke further explored color, flatness, and abstraction.
P.S. Hungry for more? See modern life through August Macke’s vivid lens ... and try a little experiment: Look closely at Four Girls. What do you notice first? Where does your eye go next? How does the color affect the mood? These are the kinds of questions we address in our How to Look at Art online course. It's not just about what you see, but how you see it. Ready to train your eye like an art detective?
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